The Network of NGOs of Trinidad & Tobago for the Advancement of Women

The Network of NGOs of Trinidad & Tobago for the Advancement of Women was born in 1984 and founded in 1985 in response to the need for collaboration among NGOs in Trinidad and Tobago to assess the achievements of the UN Decade for Women and in preparation for the 1985 Nairobi Conference. From 35 organisations in 1985, membership now includes some 102 NGOs which represent the varied interests of women of Trinidad and Tobago, and is the largest network of civil society organisations in the country.

The Network works toward ensuring gender equality and promotes women’s human rights and empowerment nationally, regionally and globally. The Network has also been building working relationships with sister organizations, regionally and internationally such as the Commonwealth Network and the Caribbean Institute of Women Leadership. It holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council ECOSOC), and is fully recognised by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Ministry of Gender Affairs and is, as stated, is associated with the United Nations and its associate agencies including UNFPA, UNIFEM, WSIS, CSW, CSD, UNDEF, and the UNDP as well as the European Union, Commonwealth Foundation, Organisation of American States, CIVICUS, Match International and the Caribbean Policy Development Centre. It is also a member of the Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future.

Vision

To pursue gender equality, recognition of women’s human rights, and women’s empowerment nationally, regionally, and globally.

Mission

While maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards, we will provide effective representation and advocacy towards improving and enhancing the quality of life for women and girls in Trinidad and Tobago.

Objectives

  • Service: To improve the lives of women and families through collective and collaborative efforts among members and strategic alliances with other organizations and agencies locally, regionally and internationally.
  • Transformation: To facilitate the process of social transformation and re-structure the existing gender imbalance towards more equitable gender relations.
  • Social Justice & Human Rights: To recognize women’s rights as human rights and work towards correcting structural imbalances through systemic change.
  • Integrity & Accountability: To maintain the highest ethical and moral standards as an organization accountable to those we serve and those who support us.
  • Quality Representation: To provide the highest possible quality representation and advocacy services to the women of Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Inclusion & Democracy: To invite & welcome all to join and participate on an equitable basis.
  • Sisterhood: To share and grow together in strength.
  • Leadership: To guarantee our future preeminence as a provider of advocacy and voluntary services to women and to mentor and build young women’s involvement in national life.

Projects & Campaigns

Network Training Centre (NTC)

Offers training programmes towards the leadership and empowerment of women and the NTC works in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development Culture and Gender Affairs and other government Ministries and agencies eg. Ministry of Public Utilities and The Environment, Local Government and Social Development as well as private sector including civil society organizations and networks to achieve its goals.

Put a Woman

This project [Information brochure]aims to prepare women and young persons to participate in local government and general elections and at the same time prepare the environment of a predominantly male governmental process. Its objectives are to:

  • Contribute to the transformation of the political culture in Trinidad and Tobago
  • Create new and innovative partnerships and exchange at national, regional and global levels around the issue of women’s campaign financing
  • Promote youth involvement in the electoral process

Young Women of the Year Award

An award ceremony that celebrates the remarkable achievement of young women. It is wholly youth led with the aim of grooming young women to take over the reigns of the movement.

Past winners included:

Shane de Silva (Sports); Renee Alfred (Community Work); Cherry Ann Rajkumar (Business Enterprise); Shivana Arjoon Singh (Business Enterprise)

The Women’s Responsive Sou Sou Banking System

This Banking System is based on the African traditional system we know as Sou Sou. It assist women especially low income women who do not have access to commercial bank accounts, to save in their own environments.

The objectives are:
To work with rural and urban low-income women to remove poverty from their lives through wealth creating practices and enterprises
To mobilize, generate and deliver cooperative community and personal resources for productive and life enhancing ventures
To promote gender-compliant and women friends democratic practices and leadership at all levels of governance

Caribbean Institute for Women in Politics

Caribbean Institute for Women in Politics is a regional organization dedicated to promoting equal participation of women in politics and decision-making.

The aims of the institute are-
  • to advocate for transformative politics in the Caribbean;
  • to create a critical mass of competent, committed and effective women politicians in elective and appointed positions in government;
  • to develop a responsible female citizenry, and to influence female politicians and electorate
  • to work together to transform politics and governance for the common good of the Caribbean Region.

Network Founders

  • Claris Manswell-St. Louis
  • Faith Wiltshire
  • Grace Talma
  • Joy Dumas
  • Hazel Brown
  • Donna Carter
  • Velma Jardine
  • Rhona Ince
  • Cynthia Dowers
  • Judy White
  • Pat Stephens
  • Lorna Rigsby
  • Wendy Ifill
  • Lynette Seebaran-Suite

Network co-ordinators

1984 - 1988 Claris Manswell-St.Louis
1988 - 1991 Faith Wiltshire
1991 - 1999 Asha Kambon
1999 - 2009 Hazel Brown

Contact information

The Network for NGOs Professional Center, Wrightson Rd. Extension, Cor. Fitz Blackman Drive, Woodbrook, Trinidad and Tobago

Email: networkngott@gmail.com
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